Nelson was born in Sweden. He emigrated to the United States and got a job as a delivery boy. He held employment as a grocery clerk, foundry worker and railway worker, but finally went into the banking industry and eventually became president of the Geneva State Bank and head of the Kane Co. Bankers' Association.[1][2]
Political and trade union careeredit
Nelson was elected state treasurer in 1922.[1] In 1924, Nelson won election as the Auditor for the state of Illinois and re-elected in 1928.[1] In 1931, Nelson was tried on charges of malfeasance for refusing to close banks even though he knew they were in poor financial condition. Nelson was acquitted after a state court ruled juries had no jurisdiction over state officers.[2]
Nelson succeeded BSEIU founding president, William Quesse, a close friend and political backer who had died of cancer on February 16, 1927.[3] Nelson resigned due to health concerns on September 3, 1927.[4]Jerry Horan, a BSEIU organizer whose primary job was to act as Quesse's chauffeur,[5] was elected Nelson's successor on September 6, 1927.[6]
Nelson retired from electoral politics in 1932, but continued to serve served in a number of appointed capacities (most notably on a factory conversion commission after World War II).[1] He was also president and owner of the Unity Oil & Gas Corporation.[1]
Deathedit
Oscar Nelson died (most probably of a heart attack) in his home in Geneva, Illinois, in 1951.[1]
Notesedit
^ abcdefg"Oscar Nelson, 76, banker and G.O.P. Aid, Dies," Chicago Daily Tribune, April 3, 1951.
^ ab"Oscar Nelson, 1926-1933," History of the Office, Illinois Comptroller, State of Illinois, no date.
^"W.F. Quesse, Labor Chief, Dies of Cancer," Chicago Daily Tribune, February 16, 1927.
^Wren, "Horan Succeeds Oscar Nelson As Janitors' Chief," Chicago Daily Tribune, September 4, 1927.
Beadling, Tom, et al. A Need for Valor: The Roots of the Service Employees International Union, 1902-1992. Washington, D.C.: Service Employees International Union, 1992.
"Capone Effort to Influence Judge Charged." Chicago Daily Tribune. February 25, 1933.
Fitch, Robert. Solidarity For Sale. New York: PublicAffairs, 2006. ISBN1-891620-72-X
"Horan Installed As Head of Flat Janitor Union." Chicago Daily Tribune. September 7, 1927.
Jentz, John B. "Unions, Cartels, and the Political Economy of American Cities: The Chicago Flat Janitors' Union in the Progressive Era and the 1920s." Studies in American Political Development. 14 (Spring 2000).
Jentz, John B. "Citizenship, Self-Respect, and Political Power: Chicago's Flat Janitors Trailblaze the Service Employees International Union, 1912-1921." Labor's Heritage. 9:1 (Summer 1997).
"100 Philosophers." Time. December 27, 1937.
"Oscar Nelson, 76, banker and G.O.P. Aid, Dies." Chicago Daily Tribune. April 3, 1951.
Accessed October 1, 2007.
"W.F. Quesse, Labor Chief, Dies of Cancer." Chicago Daily Tribune. February 16, 1927.
Wren, Thomas. "Horan Succeeds Oscar Nelson As Janitors' Chief." Chicago Daily Tribune. September 4, 1927.
oscar, nelson, american, medal, honor, recipient, oscar, frederick, nelson, boxer, battling, nelson, april, 1874, april, 1951, politician, union, leader, served, illinois, treasurer, illinois, auditor, public, accounts, also, served, interim, president, buildi. For the American Medal of Honor recipient see Oscar Frederick Nelson For the boxer see Battling Nelson Oscar Nelson April 22 1874 April 2 1951 was a politician and union leader who served as Illinois treasurer Illinois auditor of public accounts He also served as the interim president of the Building Service Employees International Union the precursor of the Service Employees International Union in 1927 1 Oscar NelsonIllinois Auditor of Public AccountsIn office 1926 1933Preceded byAndrew RusselSucceeded byEdward J BarrettIllinois TreasurerIn office 1923 1925GovernorLen SmallPreceded byEdward E MillerSucceeded byOmer N CusterPersonal detailsBorn 1874 04 22 April 22 1874SwedenDiedApril 2 1951 1951 04 02 aged 76 Geneva IllinoisPolitical partyRepublican Contents 1 Early life and early career 2 Political and trade union career 3 Other activities 4 Death 5 Notes 6 ReferencesEarly life and early career editNelson was born in Sweden He emigrated to the United States and got a job as a delivery boy He held employment as a grocery clerk foundry worker and railway worker but finally went into the banking industry and eventually became president of the Geneva State Bank and head of the Kane Co Bankers Association 1 2 Political and trade union career editNelson was elected state treasurer in 1922 1 In 1924 Nelson won election as the Auditor for the state of Illinois and re elected in 1928 1 In 1931 Nelson was tried on charges of malfeasance for refusing to close banks even though he knew they were in poor financial condition Nelson was acquitted after a state court ruled juries had no jurisdiction over state officers 2 Nelson succeeded BSEIU founding president William Quesse a close friend and political backer who had died of cancer on February 16 1927 3 Nelson resigned due to health concerns on September 3 1927 4 Jerry Horan a BSEIU organizer whose primary job was to act as Quesse s chauffeur 5 was elected Nelson s successor on September 6 1927 6 A Republican Nelson was appointed a member of the Republican National Committee s platform drafting panel in 1937 7 Other activities editNelson retired from electoral politics in 1932 but continued to serve served in a number of appointed capacities most notably on a factory conversion commission after World War II 1 He was also president and owner of the Unity Oil amp Gas Corporation 1 Death editOscar Nelson died most probably of a heart attack in his home in Geneva Illinois in 1951 1 Notes edit a b c d e f g Oscar Nelson 76 banker and G O P Aid Dies Chicago Daily Tribune April 3 1951 a b Oscar Nelson 1926 1933 History of the Office Illinois Comptroller State of Illinois no date W F Quesse Labor Chief Dies of Cancer Chicago Daily Tribune February 16 1927 Wren Horan Succeeds Oscar Nelson As Janitors Chief Chicago Daily Tribune September 4 1927 Fitch Solidarity For Sale 2006 Horan Installed As Head of Flat Janitor Union Chicago Daily Tribune September 7 1927 100 Philosophers Time December 27 1937 References editBeadling Tom et al A Need for Valor The Roots of the Service Employees International Union 1902 1992 Washington D C Service Employees International Union 1992 Capone Effort to Influence Judge Charged Chicago Daily Tribune February 25 1933 Fitch Robert Solidarity For Sale New York PublicAffairs 2006 ISBN 1 891620 72 X Horan Installed As Head of Flat Janitor Union Chicago Daily Tribune September 7 1927 Jentz John B Unions Cartels and the Political Economy of American Cities The Chicago Flat Janitors Union in the Progressive Era and the 1920s Studies in American Political Development 14 Spring 2000 Jentz John B Citizenship Self Respect and Political Power Chicago s Flat Janitors Trailblaze the Service Employees International Union 1912 1921 Labor s Heritage 9 1 Summer 1997 100 Philosophers Time December 27 1937 Oscar Nelson 76 banker and G O P Aid Dies Chicago Daily Tribune April 3 1951 Oscar Nelson 1926 1933 History of the Office Illinois Comptroller State of Illinois No date Accessed October 1 2007 W F Quesse Labor Chief Dies of Cancer Chicago Daily Tribune February 16 1927 Wren Thomas Horan Succeeds Oscar Nelson As Janitors Chief Chicago Daily Tribune September 4 1927 Party political offices Preceded byEdward E Miller Republican nominee for Illinois Treasurer1922 Succeeded byOmer N Custer Preceded byAndrew Russel Republican nominee for Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts1924 1928 Succeeded byHarry G Wright Political offices Preceded byEdward E Miller Illinois Treasurer1923 1925 Succeeded byOmer N Custer Preceded byAndrew Russel Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts1926 1933 Succeeded byEdward J Barrett Business positions Preceded byWilliam Quesse President of Service Employees International Union1927 Succeeded byJerry Horan Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Oscar Nelson amp oldid 1134625098, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
